Depression Warning Signs

The pages linked to this page will help you understand different kinds of depression, how it is treated and what you can
do to help yourself. Often, the first step is knowing you are depressed. Many of the people who come to my office for treatment know
something is wrong, but aren’t quite sure what it is. They may indicate
they came to therapy as a result of a family member or spouse's
suggestion. I've compiled a list below to help you figure out if you might be suffering from depression.

Depression Warning Signs #1

The number one sign that you are depressed or may be on
the path to depression is a feeling of unhappiness and being unfulfilled
(depressed mood).

That is not to say that you are depressed if you are
unhappy at times. Unhappiness, sadness and other uncomfortable emotions
are a part of healthy emotional life. However, if the feelings of
unhappiness are pervasive and long lasting (two weeks and nearly every
day ),you may meet the criteria for major depressive disorder.

Depression Warning Signs #2

A lack of joy or interest in activities that previous gave you pleasure.

Many of the clients I work with will report that they are
concerned because the things that used to bring them happiness no longer
do. Most commonly depressed people say they no longer want to be with
friends, cook, exercise,or do whatever it is that used to bring them
joy. Sometimes, especially in relationships, if a depressed person and
their partner are unaware of this symptom, it can be misunderstood as
falling out of love, or losing interest in their relationship. Usually
though, depression is not personal.

Depression Warning Signs# 3

Having feelings of anger and irritability.

Many people experiencing depression will experience a loss of
patience and an increase in irritability. This may be noticed more by
the people around them, and again can be misunderstood and personalized
by a loved one.

Depression Warning Signs #4

Disrupted sleep patterns.

Rarely does a depressed person come in to therapy without
disrupted sleep. They may having trouble falling asleep, because they
lay in bed stuck on thinking about negative and fearful things. Also,
they may have early morning wakefulness or middle of the night
wakefulness where they wake up have troubling thoughts and cannot fall
back asleep.

Depression Warning Signs #5

Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt.

For example, feeling guilty or responsible for other’s behaviors
or things in the world or in the past that you have no control over.

People who are depressed have distorted thinking. In fact the
whole premise of good therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, challenges
this distorted thinking. Certain thinking errors have been isolated in
depressed people. Although not obvious to the depressed person, others
can easily see that the depressed person’s feelings of worthlessness and
guilt are unjustified and inaccurate.

Depression Warning Signs # 6

Feeling overwhelmed by normal stressors in your life.

A woman I have worked with in the past, for example, who managed
many people at work, a household and several young children, became
completely undone by finding a mouse was living in her house. In fact
this experience drove her to bed for three days. People who are
depressed often find normal stress unbearable, and will say so and
recognize that this is not the norm for them. In fact, that knowledge
that they are feeling out of their normal selves( overwhelmed, angry,
irritable) can cause them as much pain and stress as their depression.

Depression Warning Signs #7

Diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness.

People report having trouble making decisions, being confused
easily by problems or tasks and having difficulty doing things that
require they concentrate. Things such as such as reading a book or even
watching a movie can seem impossible!

Depression Warning Signs #8

Fatigue or loss of energy.

Feeling drained and exhausted and unable to get through your
daily routine is also a sign of depression. People who are depressed
don’t just experience it in their mind, but also their body. This is
perhaps the most visibly debilitating. Depressed people are challenged
just to make it through the day. Mustering up the courage to fight
through this can be extremely difficult.

Depression Warning Signs #9

Pessimism and negative thoughts.

Depression is a self-perpetuating cycle. It is difficult to know
which comes first, the thoughts or the depression. People who are
depressed are clearly more likely to dwell and engage in thoughts about
their unhappiness, hopelessness and guilt. They are more likely to focus
on the negative and to dwell on the less attractive qualities of the
world and the people in it. Again, this is a main point that focused
treatment can radically alter.

Depression Warning Signs #10

Thoughts of suicide and death.

People who are depressed may consider suicide as a way to end
their pain. They may also be much more likely to dwell on death itself,
finding themselves thinking about others dying and other frightening
thoughts. If you have these feelings, self help is not enough for you
and you need to immediately seek treatment.

Depression symptoms are generally the same for all kinds of
depression, but there are some differences that might be important to
note for diagnostic purposes. Click on the pages below to learn about
different forms of depression.

Dysthymia is a long-term low- grade depression that is not as
immediately debilitating, but in the long run can seriously impact your
life.

Situational depression is a depression that can be traced to a
particularly stressful situation. Click here to find out more about
situational depression.

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